Your Christmas Gift

December 24

Your Christmas Gift

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:31-32)

This Christmas Eve while many are doing their last minute shopping, preparing large meals for multiple relatives (or preparing to eat them), as well as putting up last minute decorations and Christmas trees, remember the main reason for this wonderful holiday is to reflect on why the Savior came into the world. Jesus is God’s special and precious “Christmas gift” to all of mankind.

Concerning His life Jesus said, “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:18). This is important to remember. Jesus did not have to die if He did not want to. The Father did not have to allow His Son to be killed. Both the Father and Son made choices and in their choices you and I took precedence over all of the pain, suffering, heartbreak, and separation that the Father and Jesus would have to endure.

Look at the language used in these passages: God, “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all,” That means He could have used omnipotent power to prevent the killing of His Son. He could have easily blown away the men and demons that orchestrated the worse murder in all of history. Rather than stop it, Peter also says, “Him, when he was given up, by the decision and knowledge of God….” (Acts 2:23). God gave up His Son. He gave Him up for us. God did not kill Him. Our sins put Him on that cross.

Jesus, who could have called upon a legion of angels to help Him (Matt. 26:53) instead decided to lay down His life. This same Jesus who created the universe and who created mankind, allowed His own creatures to kill Him in order that He may save them. This is the epitome of love. The Creator God who had power to stop the torment and torture that He underwent for us gave Himself over to it because we were on His mind during the whole torturous event.

So this day before Christmas, when some parents will lie to children and tell them about an overweight, white bearded man in a red suit who climbs down chimneys to bring them toys as gifts as a reward for being good, let us tell the world about a Savior who gave us the gift of Savior. This gift wasn’t given because we were good. He was given to make us good.

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